ZoomSafer and Ovation Wireless partnership
ZoomSafer, a provider of risk management software to prevent distracted driving, and Ovation Wireless Management, provider of enterprise mobile device management solutions, have announced a new partnership that integrates ZoomSafer’s FleetSafer policy management solutions with Ovation's mobile device management software to enable companies to monitor employee compliance with mobile phone use policies. ZoomSafer offers two enterprise software services for enforcing cell phone use policies. FleetSafer Vision,
AECOM and PB JV for Los Angeles regional connector
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) has selected a joint venture of AECOM and Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB) to provide conceptual planning and preliminary design for the US$1.4 billion Metro Regional Connector Transit corridor project, also known as the Downtown Connector or Downtown Light-Rail Connector.
Infinova CCTV equipment deployed on eight expressways in China’s Shanxi province
Infinova has announced that 2,870 of its cameras of varying types are covering 830 km of expressways throughout the northern province of Shanxi in China. Expressways include Shangman, Xihan, Baoniu, Weipu, Shangjie, Baomao, Tongxi and Zhong’nan Mountain Tunnel. Besides the cameras, the deployments also include the company’s matrix switchers, DVRs, fibre optic transceivers and modems, housings, Ethernet modems and other Infinova equipment.
Partnership to fight distracted driving
US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has announced that the US DOT and Better Business Bureau will collaborate to educate consumers and businesses about the dangers of distracted driving.
“Distracted driving has become a deadly epidemic on America’s roads,” Secretary LaHood said. “We know that educating people about the risk of distracted driving works, and we are pleased to be working with BBB to raise awareness and help businesses and consumers fight this problem.”
Ford to build its first transmission plant in China
Ford, together with its partners in China, is building its first transmission plant there to support its aggressive growth plan in the world's largest auto market.
Ford's passenger vehicle joint venture in China, Changan Ford Mazda Automobile (CFMA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the transmission plant project with the Chongqing Municipal Government. The plant, with an initial investment of US$350 million to be entirely funded by CFMA, will produce advanced fuel-efficient six-speed automati
City Link chooses GreenRoad For UK delivery vans
GreenRoad, a specialist in driver performance and fuel efficiency, has announced that City Link, the UK's leading premium express delivery company, has gone live with GreenRoad 360 in 280 vans at 14 depots throughout the country.
Men are more stressed than women when stuck in traffic
According to new research from TomTom, men's stress levels soar a staggering seven times higher than a woman's when stuck in heavy traffic. Psychologists tested volunteers for the rise in stress chemicals - Immunoglobulin A (IgA - an immune system marker) and alpha-amylase (a stress marker) - in their saliva when caught up in a traffic jam. The levels for women in the study increased by 8.7 per cent while stuck behind the wheel - but for men it shot up by a worrying 60 per cent in the same gridlock scenario
VW presents electric mobility research
Volkswagen, in cooperation with six project partners and the German Ministry of the Environment, is presenting the current status of the ‘Fleet study in electric mobility’ that was initiated in July 2008. The primary goal of the project, which runs until June 2012, is to consistently utilise renewable energy sources for electrically powered vehicles. Within the framework of the fleet study, Volkswagen is using a total of 20 of the latest generation Golf Variant TwinDrive cars as research vehicles.
UK city deploys CitySync ANPR system
Image Sensing Systems has announced that its subsidiary Image Sensing Systems – Europe (ISS – Europe) has provided Nottingham City Council with a CitySync ANPR access control system at the Broadmarsh Multi-Story car park (MSCP). Located in the city centre opposite Nottingham Crown Court, the council wished to introduce a designated contract parking area within the car park to provide local workers a permanent allocated parking space.
TagMaster heavy-duty ID-tags for mainline rail project in China
Sweden-headquartered RFID specialist TagMaster has received an order from Richor, the company’s premium Chinese distributor, to supply 10,000 Heavy-duty ID-tags. These customised 2.45 GHz ID-tags form part of several equipment orders relating to the Letter of Intent announced in May 2011, which covers the joint development of an RFID system for use on mainline railways in China.
ST Electronics wins info-secruity and ITS contracts
ST Electronics of Singapore has been awarded contracts valued at a total of SGD 58 million (US$46.84 million) to carry out infomation-security and ITS projects.
Under the info-security projects, which are worth SGD 28mn, ST Electronics will implement solutions and devices for a national infrastructure project, as well as event management and security incident systems.
Nav system compatible with V2I developed by Toyota
Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) has developed an onboard navigation system compatible with the vehicle-infrastructure cooperative Driving Safety Support System (DSSS) scheduled for launch by the Japanese National Police Agency in Japan next month. The five main features of the new system, which provides timely audio and visual warnings and notifications to drivers, are red light warning, stop sign warning, stationary vehicle ahead warning, blind corner vehicle presence notification, and green light advance n
Philips boosts business
Royal Philips Electronics is boosting its portfolio with a move to acquire Indal, a leading Spanish professional luminaires supplier. The two firms have made an agreement over the proposed acquisition deal. Indal’s product line centres on outdoor lighting solutions and this acquisition will boost both the product range and geographical spread for Philips within the European market.
Caltrans approves McCain’s 336L Controller Cabinet
McCain has announced approval of its 336L traffic controller cabinet on the Caltrans Qualified Product List (QPL) – the third ‘L’ version traffic controller cabinet on the QPL - the 332L, 334L, and now the 336L. McCain says the “L” cabinet series are more ecologically friendly and energy efficient, decreasing energy consumption through the use of a power-saving, high-efficiency power supply and eliminating the use of the harmful toxin mercury.
Preliminary programme now available for the 18th ITS World Congress
ITS America has released the Preliminary Programme for the 18th World Congress on Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), an interactive e-brochure that is a one-stop resource for the latest information on the major activities planned for World Congress week which will take place in Orlando, Florida from 16 – 20 October, 2011. The event is expected to draw over 10,000 attendees from 75 countries including legislators, transport ministers and public sector officials, international business and technology l
Turkey turnkey tunnel deal for Siemens
Turkey's General Directorate of Highways (KGM or Karayollari Genel Müdürlügü), is ordering power, lighting and ventilation equipment from Siemens for a major tunnel project. The Dorukhan Tunnel linking Mengen and Devrek will be equipped with the package from Siemens, which includes associated safety and communications systems. The size of the deal has not been released and the handover of the new system is scheduled for January 2012.
NNG completes EU-supported auto nav solution
As part of the New Hungary Development Plan, NNG has developed a new, automotive line-fit navigation solution based on the iGO My way engine. The company, which was awarded an EU subsidy for the 18-month development project, has now delivered its first line-fit navigation product to a market-leading global motor-vehicle Tier 1 supplier.
ODoT selects AeroVironment for ‘Green Highway’
AeroVironment has been selected by the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODoT) to install its high-power Level 3 electric vehicle (EV) fast charging stations along the I-5 corridor from the California state line to the Willamette Valley. This is the beginning of the “Green Highway,” a vision for safe and consistent charging infrastructure spanning the West Coast, allowing EV drivers to travel with confidence from San Diego to Vancouver in Canada.
HA outsources storage and distribution of vms signs
The UK’s Highways Agency (HA) has turned to international logistics specialist Norbert Dentressangle to handle, store and distribute variable message signs for the UK motorway network. Previously, the HA paid manufacturers to store its signs but, under the new arrangement, it will benefit from consolidating all the stock at Norbert Dentressangle’s Telford site. The company will also be responsible for the phased migration of product from manufacturer sites in Gatwick, Aylesbury and Newcastle Upon Tyne.
AC Desarrollo buys 21.3% stake in Postigo
AC Desarrollo, the capital risk firm of Ahorro Corporacion, purchased a 21.3% stake in the Spanish firm Postigo, that specialises in road safety equipment, signalling and other traffic elements. The aim is to increase the stake to 31%, and the operation was performed through a capital increase. Postigo reported a turnover of EUR 72 million (US$103.22 million) in 2010.